99 Comments:

Anonymous said...

Make it a real corporal rank then the sergeant can write them up when the lowly PO is out of uniform or out of sorts. See, I always knew I should have been a deputy chief or something beside a beat sergeant. Them guys in the districts are out of control. You need discipline ya hear discipline. Sergeants lives matter!

It's an aweful position especially with the way police are treated and monitored by hating lawyers and politicians. It's way underpaid for all the responsibility, risk and danger to our physical and financial well being. No way!

To make it better? More compensation. 1 recruit per fto or, if 2, then double pay. Take the fto's evaluations seriously, if someone shouldn't be the police then don't just pass them through. Fto's should have at least 7 years on (10 years at least to be a sgt). Be able to be an fto in any district, if not already. I know they were restricted before.

Find coppers who want to work at teaching a recruit the job, instead of having the recruit drive the FTO around running errands. And then coppers/bosses want to know why the new kid doesn't know anything or steps in shit.

I had all sorts of very good suggestions to attract good people to the FTO program. This horseshit police department isn't interested. It ignored all good suggestions, not just mine but everyone's. Screw the FTO program. Here are my only surviving reasonable suggestions: Give to Deferred until it hurts; retire as soon as possible; move out of Chicago; don't look back.

Put a picture of Rahm Emanuel and Richard M Daley on the side of your car; drive away until someone asks "Who is that?" Move there.

-Go back to what the FTO program was in the late 90's when it was semi thriving.-Open every district to the program.-Let FTO's make an extra 1 hour a day for training a recruit. (if the dept is concerned about the $$$, limit it to on the books only) it's still a win for both parties then.-Let the FTO's earn that extra hour whether the recruit is on their cycle or not, so essentially the entire time a recruit is on probation, as long as an FTO is working with one they get the extra hour.-These are only few suggestions.

I do.. Act like a Police Department. Not this ass kissing liberal bullshit. No FTO should have 2 recruits at the same time. Send them to fast districts only. My FTO ran my ding ding in the dirt for 10 weeks. If a paper job came up... He said give it to me... I have a recruit. These college educated goofs have no idea what being a Cop really is.

this will be the first time that the kid comes out of the academy all worried about getting sued, fired, or arrested and we won't be able to argue the point. I have no desire to teach some kid how to work because it's only going to get us jammed up. Sad. Fact.

It is without question the most important job in Patrol. However, it has consistently been treated by Administrations as if it was done by dedicated men and women as simply an excuse to get a couple of more dollars per pay period. The rank of FTO should be rewarded with recognition of its value. In addition to a higher rate of pay, FTOs should be given points on promotional exams, based on the time an individual has served as an FTO, with a cap of as many as 8 pts for say 10 yrs as an FTO. The points would be given only once, on a Detective Exam or an Exam for Sergeant. It is the Least that the Department could do to reward these brave and noble officers. Make no mistake about it, when a recruit gets out of the Academy he/she is still a civilian, and now a civilian with a gun. The entire career of that civilian is impacted forever by the quality or lack there of, demonstrated by that FTO. And that FTO risks his or her life, because as we have seen over the years, some recruits cannot drive and there have even been cases where and when confronted with death; occasionally recruits have shown cowardice, leaving the FTO on his or her own."Baby G"

I respect the ghetto. I would like a ghetto referendum. I would like to "empower" and "enfranchise" the ghetto.

Simply ask the ghetto whether it wants gun laws enforced or not. If the ghetto chooses not to enforce the laws then let it bear the consequences. If the ghetto chooses to enforce the gun laws, then start sending ghetto gun toters to federal prison for 5 years.

Ghetto choice.

That way we could ignore all the hand-wringing, bleeding-heart articles about the "mean streets" in the ghetto by the Trib and Sun Times with a four word letter to the editor: "They asked for it".

Fix the program? How about making FTO's supervisors, not pensionable of course, but make them corporals with authority on the street when a sergeant is not present. Give them some respect and some benefits.Possibly some edge up on promotion exams.

My FTO was one of the most unfathomable morons God ever put on this earth. AND he was a thief. AND he was a Lard Ass, a kiss ass, an incompetent, a racist, and a rat.AND the bosses Loved him.

Meanwhile his recruit never stole a thing, is still trim and muscle bound, never kissed ass, is generally competent, treats people equally, and never ratted out another copper. Yet the Bosses hate him.

Now theres a lesson here for all you would be crime fighters filling out your app's.

I was drafted to be a patrol specialist in the 80's and few people wanted the job then. Over the years there has been talk of contuining education and additonal training for FTO's (not happened) and one or two merit sgt spots (again not happened). The most important change would be a commitment to trainig from the command staff, but their priority is to take care of the clouted, inside people and secret units. Again this will never happen so the program will be what it is.

I remember a rather "portly" officer who was a real "good" cop wanted to be an FTO. The watch commander, and district commander wouldn't let him, because he was considered overweight. And the truth was, any rookie would have been lucky to train with this guy. Just another way we can't count on our current bosses to set up any FTO program that is worthwhile...I was an FTO for a while, and I wouldn't do it over...Nuff Said

The Dept created the mess. They eliminated training districts, failed to keep up hiring, failed to provide equipment (did we get our FOP 'contractual' allotment of new cars yet?), created mountains of paper work, and still lump recruits together to fend for themselves at large events. A failed antiquated system. So what is the Dept is willing to change?

Let's understand you pay political hacks D-3 sergeants pay and a large sergeants pension to be on mayors detail,city clerk, city treasurer but yet they are patrolmen, even the commander on those details is a d-1 patrolman no promotion at will job. Then over here you have an FTO who tested was "promoted" civil service rank and he/she does not even get compensated as much as a detective! Can you guess why no one wants it?

Give FTO's detectives or sergeants pay grade. OR--Why not have the sergeants act as FTO.

9/11/2015 08:07:00 AM

You better lay off the fucking pipe. You want to pay some dog FTO sergeant's pay to have some dumb 20 something year old slave drive him around and write his parkers for him all night? As far as detective pay goes... If I could give up the stress and headaches associated with the D-Unit for having my own personal slave in a beat car with summer furloughs, I'd trade it in second. It's bad enough they already make the same pay as the ET'S which I'm sure start scratching their head on the 12th crime scene of the night and ask themselves why the hell they didn't become an FTO instead. You must really be smoking some good shit.

They need to dump all current FTOs (biggest group of weirdos on the job) then completely restructure the position. D2A pay and prefrence points toward Sgt. promotion. One or both of these changes will give the Dept. a large pool of quality candidates, not the collection of turds they have now.

I do.. Act like a Police Department. Not this ass kissing liberal bullshit. No FTO should have 2 recruits at the same time. Send them to fast districts only. My FTO ran my ding ding in the dirt for 10 weeks. If a paper job came up... He said give it to me... I have a recruit. These college educated goofs have no idea what being a Cop really is.

9/11/2015 06:32:00 AM

That's what my FTO did with me and I think it went a long way towards helping me learn the job!

take the people off the Sgt's list and have them serve 1 year as an FTO. It follows a promotional process. Once made a Sgt they can act as an FTO right? And they get to have a hand in training people they may have to supervise someday. Can you say vested interest? Plus you don't have to wait 100 years while the list stays up

Get rid of that stupid foot patrol, operation impact, or whatever it's called. Have the recruits trained by one competent FTO for their entire training cycle. When they get done, put them on 1st or 3rd watch in any south or west side district. That way they can put to use the things the FTO taught them. Through practice, these skills will be ingrained in their memory. I see these young recruits get off their probation, assigned to a watch and a beat car and not have the slightest idea what case report should be written for the particular job they're on. That's because, in many cases, they HAVE NOT written a case report for the last 10 -12 months they have been away from their FTO and on the operation impact foot patrol. STUPID program!!!!! One more thing, there is no reason whatsoever for a recruit or officer freshly off probation to be assigned to the second watch in any district in the city.They should spend some time in the trenches. Maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy.

"I do.. Act like a Police Department. Not this ass kissing liberal bullshit. No FTO should have 2 recruits at the same time. Send them to fast districts only. My FTO ran my ding ding in the dirt for 10 weeks. If a paper job came up... He said give it to me... I have a recruit. These college educated goofs have no idea what being a Cop really is."

9/11/2015 06:32:00 AM

Help bring along a fine young officer -- tradition of the Master teaching the Apprentice the skills you don't pick up except on the job. More about people than paper -- the spots, the scams, the games that are run. Teach what B.A.D. -- the hardhead m---f---ers -- are about. Time on weekend? Maybe go out unofficial to a safe place and start some work at 7 feet, where it usually kicks off. Build some confidence and skill there. Let go on old building door, car body, refrigerator, milk jugs of water, etc. -- actual every day s__t, not just paper hanging out there. See? Oh yes it works, and oh yes you can. New ofc. today might be the one who shows to back you up some day when you are in a tight.

The department has betrayed us multiple times. So we are just supposed to trust them at their good faith. I am a former FTO and I have had enough. No sane officer wants to be an FTO because of the department's past actions. How would you like them to offer you benefits to induce you to the program and then they retract it just before the ink dries out? I'm better off on patrol.

After two years on the job, I am glad that I am finally able to take a test and move up in the department. I laugh at the officers who are disgruntled and do not want to do anything. I am taking the test and I am moving up on this job.

Currently, I am getting my masters in Criminal Justice from Calumet College. Yes the curriculum is challenging, but I have been getting straight As.

With my masters, I will go far on this job. Already, I see how many officers do not have a clue about making stops. These are officers who have over twenty years on the job. It was definitely overdue for the department to spell out their jobs so that they can comprehend what they are supposed to do.

I suggest that the department implement scripts and make the officers read them verbatim while they are conducting stops. But officers will still have trouble making stops the template in hand notwithstanding.

Came on early 90's. The old 015 (Fort Forgotten)Had the best F.T.O. there will ever be. Randy Ugoric.Without being an asshole, he managed to keep a foot in my p.p.o. ass.By the end of the 8 week cycle, I adored him. Not so much during the cycle.When he was done with me, I knew pretty all a green cop needed to know.He was so good, Sgts used to come to him for answers.I always asked why he never took promotion exams. Said he was happy being a blue shirt.

FTO 2-3 coppers at the same time to train, that's really giving the recruit coppers a chance! It's unfair not only to the copper but to the citizens that actually dutifully pay their taxes every-time and on time! FTO should be paid minimum detectives pay and allow them the overtime detectives make why not? FTO's definitely deserve it, maybe just maybe reduce the pay for the bodyguards on mayors and elected details back to proper scale of D-1 and pay the FTO's D-3 the sergeants pay the "valets" make for holding the mayors coat and door!

How about getting FTO's that actually want to be one? All the FTOs I had sucked. I didn't learn shit from any of my cycles except all of their problems.

A lot of FTOs are a pain the ass and are bossy and think they know everything and no P/O wants to work with someone like that. That's why they're attracted to the FTO spot. They can work with PPOs who are more timid and more likely to take their BS and bite their tongue because they're just starting the job and don't want their FTO whispering to any bosses that their PPO is hard to work with. A lot of FTO's are total jags to their PPOs, but they'll be the last ones to say something to a gang banger standing on the corner selling dope. I've only known about 2 or 3 good FTOs in 16 years. Most of them are assholes that nobody wants to work with.

The reason the FTO program failed is because they limited it to only 6 or 7 districts.They had a full class of FTO's a day or two away from graduation as an FTO and the Dept. pulled this boner.Have the class walked out, never becoming FTO'sMany FTO's that were currently in districts at that time quit as well.No one wanted to go to the "selected" districts.

I believe at that time the Dept also limited the .45hr per day the FTO's were getting to only those FTO's that were actually training a PPO still on their cycles.

Anonymous said...I made this suggestion to Charlie Roberts back in 1998, when Christian was revamping the F.T.O. program.

Grant F.T.O.'s an exemption to the college degree requirement for the Sergeant test.

Giving a guy who took a pass on college a chance to be a whiteshirt. ..

Might just do it?

Any thoughts?

9/11/2015 12:42:00 AM

______

Absolutely! Let's reward the people with no motivation to do anything. You do not even need a degree to meet the college requirement; all you need are 60 credit hours. To top it off we have tuition reimbursement.

It is called getting off your ass and doing something for yourself. That is a big problem with America today, people just want everything handed to them.

I know I'm just typing to type and few people will read but anyway here's somethings from my head:

My FTO on 2nd watch didn't teach me shit and I didn't have a single arrest. Our first possible arrest of a domestic where we were called by twice and the second time, the lady opens the door and says, "he hit me." My FTO yells at them, calls them children and walks away. Now, I understand in real life this is probably how these people SHOULD be treated and after all it is THEIR problem. However, with a recruit, do the right thing.

My FTO(s) on 3rd watch. My first one was great, young, in shape, smart, and wanted to teach me. Unfortunately, after 2 weeks he went on furlough. I was stuck with an FTO who was rude, didn't wear a vest, wanted to teach me half the time and belittle me the rest. Not too mention he was half in the bottle the other times.

My FTO on 1st watch. Wanted me to drive him around, fell asleep most of the time.

Now I'm off status working with PPO's fresh out the academy. Here I am 25 years old telling 30-somethings what to do. Most of them didn't even want to listen to me. I'm learning with them but I also wanted to make sure I taught them as much as possible. Most of them quite honestly I didn't want them to be the police. They were awful. Incompetent, bloated self esteem, head strong and didn't listen to reason. Flew around in the squad cars not having a clue what they're looking for or where they're going and worse they yelled at everyone creating worse situations. When I told them too knock it off they took it personally and we ended up getting into arguments.

I eventually took the test for FTO the last time they offered it. I wasn't sure the headache and pay was worth it if I did get the position. My partner and I both left the test feeling like it was easy. We both didn't qualify - go figure. Meanwhile you have people passing the test that can't formulate a coherent thought and put it down on paper.

We need FTO's. Competent FTO's. Not FTO's that come into the Tact office asking "what should I do?" every time they get into something. You're embarrassing. I suppose it's not their fault, it's the departments fault. Look deeper into people than testing, yeah yeah yeah, I say that because I didn't pass.

As to the person who suggested opening it too all districts - no, absolutely not. I started off in a slow district and was thrown into a fast district days before I got off of PPO status. I felt like I started all over again. PPOs NEED to be in fast districts.

The pay is shit, they need to make it a stepping stone to Detective or Sergeant.

When I came on the job, there were no FTO's, everybody on the watch was your FTO. You bounced from car to car for the first year or so. One day you rode with a worker, the next day you might ride with a dog. No matter who you rode with, you were learning something. A lot of the guys wouldn't let you drive, you sat there answering the radio and doing all the paper. Anytime you got out of the car, you better be standing close to the veteran watching his back, and observing how he handled the various situations. When the working cops started telling you where they were going after check off for drinks, you knew you made the cut.

Give the FTOs D2a pay...they deserve it. I trained in 024 on days and my FTO was exceptional. He stayed late, we made frequent arrests and we did many, many traffic stops (yes in a slow district). I guess some FTOs are bad but the one I had in 024 deserves even more than D2a pay.

I resigned from the spot 11 years ago when they made my district a non training district and have never looked back. I've been working tact ever since and believe it or not, it is a lot less stressful.

I had to let my FTO know that it was our last day together. He thought we had two more weeks to go. Got sent to the deuce the next day.Bad ending to this. Some years later, 15 minutes before check off and the beginning of his furlough the next day, he turns his car around while headed to the station, stops a kid on a bicycle and got himself gutshot. Died X months later. RIP FTO Harris.

Who was the female boss at the 'town hall' meeting over at Wright college that Weis had back in the day, that when asked why FTO's were being sent all over, was told "Because your sleeve says CHICAGO Police, that's why". I don't think that sentiment has changed to this day.....And I sat there thinking -- why would anyone want that job? The dept could have moved the PPO's to the districts the FTO's were in at the stroke of a pen, but that would have been the right/easy thing to do.

D2A pay and 1/2 hour per recruit paper work and I will have no complaints 10 years FTO. That's only going to be 48 FTO,s. Anyone new must be an Fto for a year before a raise to D2A. My thoughts for years

It was that way when I came on too. You worked with damn near everybody on the watch, and you got to see how different people worked the streets. You watched the old guys, and the old guys watched out for you. It was the best learning experience a FNG could ask for.

................................When I came on the job, there were no FTO's, everybody on the watch was your FTO. You bounced from car to car for the first year or so. One day you rode with a worker, the next day you might ride with a dog. No matter who you rode with, you were learning something. A lot of the guys wouldn't let you drive, you sat there answering the radio and doing all the paper. Anytime you got out of the car, you better be standing close to the veteran watching his back, and observing how he handled the various situations. When the working cops started telling you where they were going after check off for drinks, you knew you made the cut.

How about making it mandatory to be considered for merit promotion you have to be an FTO first. Once made an FTO you don't have to forfeit any of your contract rights. If you are a FTO working days in a slow district so be it, this officer still has something to teach. Maybe only have a PPO stay with that FTO for four weeks and then transfer to another district that is fast on a different watch and new FTO. At the end of the PPO's training cycle have them rate their FTO. If a FTO consistently receives poor ratings from PPO's they will lose their FTO rank and also the opportunity to get a meritorious promotion. Obviously officers who are shot in the line of duty and officers who have done something so heroic that merits a promotion will be considered even if they have never been an FTO. My idea may not be perfect but it's a start

. . . As to the person who suggested opening it too all districts - no, absolutely not. I started off in a slow district and was thrown into a fast district days before I got off of PPO status. I felt like I started all over again. PPOs NEED to be in fast districts.

The pay is shit, they need to make it a stepping stone to Detective or Sergeant. 9/11/2015 06:00:00 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FYI kid -There aren't any slow districts any more. Every district has it's shit show now.

During my FTO "training" I never had one on one time, since I was with another PPO. I was sent to slow districts with FTOs who were all ready to retire, literally. We mostly wrote parkers & listen to our FTO tell war stories. After 11 weeks of FTO training (my last cycle was cut short) I was sent to foot patrol with a bunch of other PPOs to do nothing for almost a year. You can imagine how lost I felt once getting off status and being assigned to a beat car in yet another district.

Anonymous said...The reason the FTO program failed is because they limited it to only 6 or 7 districts.They had a full class of FTO's a day or two away from graduation as an FTO and the Dept. pulled this boner.Have the class walked out, never becoming FTO'sMany FTO's that were currently in districts at that time quit as well.No one wanted to go to the "selected" districts.

I believe at that time the Dept also limited the .45hr per day the FTO's were getting to only those FTO's that were actually training a PPO still on their cycles.

Those were the biggest mistakes the Dept. made regarding FTO's.

9/11/2015 05:43:00 PM

I remember when the FTO class quit the position. Every promise made by the command staff were lies. They completely changed the rules 2 days before graduation. That was a complete shock and ruined any motivation the new FTO's had to work. To this day, the command staff does not support the FTO program. The latest test was created 5 months ago and finally the department offers the test.I do not trust the promises made for new FTO's unless they provide some guarantees. Detectives, E.T.'s. mounted unit, Canine, marine unit do not have this problem. Only the FTO program is treated like a football. Kicked around but never reach the end zone. Any other agency will respect the FTO's, not CPD.

Meanwhile his recruit never stole a thing, is still trim and muscle bound, never kissed ass, is generally competent, treats people equally, and never ratted out another copper. Yet the Bosses hate him.

Now theres a lesson here for all you would be crime fighters filling out your app's.

9/11/2015 09:09:00 AM

Hurt feelings that nobody sees how awesome you are? I always love the "I never ratted anyone out" line. Spoken like a true criminal. You get that, right?

Anonymous Anonymous said...D2A pay and 1/2 hour per recruit paper work and I will have no complaints 10 years FTO. That's only going to be 48 FTO,s. Anyone new must be an Fto for a year before a raise to D2A. My thoughts for years

My FTO was one of the most unfathomable morons God ever put on this earth. AND he was a thief. AND he was a Lard Ass, a kiss ass, an incompetent, a racist, and a rat.AND the bosses Loved him.

Meanwhile his recruit never stole a thing, is still trim and muscle bound, never kissed ass, is generally competent, treats people equally, and never ratted out another copper. Yet the Bosses hate him.

Petey Wood was my FTO in the old 006th District. He was great. Made arrests of all kinds to give me experience going to different ct branches. Had me do all the paper. Really taught me a lot. Was excellent talking to the fools on the street. Had a million laughs with him. Each tour flew by. Thanks Pete. Made it through 30 yrs and into retirement due to your teaching and giving me experience. U da best!

After two years on the job, I am glad that I am finally able to take a test and move up in the department. I laugh at the officers who are disgruntled and do not want to do anything. I am taking the test and I am moving up on this job.

Currently, I am getting my masters in Criminal Justice from Calumet College. Yes the curriculum is challenging, but I have been getting straight As.

With my masters, I will go far on this job. Already, I see how many officers do not have a clue about making stops. These are officers who have over twenty years on the job. It was definitely overdue for the department to spell out their jobs so that they can comprehend what they are supposed to do.

I suggest that the department implement scripts and make the officers read them verbatim while they are conducting stops. But officers will still have trouble making stops the template in hand notwithstanding.

9/11/2015 04:00:00 PM

You will make a nice dickhead of a Sgt. with 25 years on! Wish ya the best asshole!

ous said...After two years on the job, I am glad that I am finally able to take a test and move up in the department. I laugh at the officers who are disgruntled and do not want to do anything. I am taking the test and I am moving up on this job.

Currently, I am getting my masters in Criminal Justice from Calumet College. Yes the curriculum is challenging, but I have been getting straight As.

With my masters, I will go far on this job. Already, I see how many officers do not have a clue about making stops. These are officers who have over twenty years on the job. It was definitely overdue for the department to spell out their jobs so that they can comprehend what they are supposed to do.

I suggest that the department implement scripts and make the officers read them verbatim while they are conducting stops. But officers will still have trouble making stops the template in hand notwithstanding.9/11/2015 04:00:00 PM

You are the perfect example of "too much college, not enough common sense". Script???? LMAO. Get some experience under your belt before you criticize. The arrogance and hubris of these newbies knows no bounds ...SMH....

Anonymous Anonymous said..."I do.. Act like a Police Department. Not this ass kissing liberal bullshit. No FTO should have 2 recruits at the same time. Send them to fast districts only. My FTO ran my ding ding in the dirt for 10 weeks. If a paper job came up... He said give it to me... I have a recruit. These college educated goofs have no idea what being a Cop really is."

Completely agree my FTO volunteered me for everything and we locked up a lot of people.These new kids bitch and moan about everything.I never complained because I knew one day I would be 99 and had to know how to write paper.Had some great FTO's some liked dope pinches others liked to go on in progress calls.Never had lazy FTO's and even the occasional coppers on the watch would teach me things.I am forever gratefull to them.

FTO When i came on in 1987 it meant something! You were with him/her for a cycle same day off group, you rotated every 28 days and you learned 1 on 1! this nonsense of 1 FTO with 2-3 recruits is insane how can you instruct so many at 1 time? Ridiculous! FTO's get what another $2,000 a year! Definitely not worth the extra stress! many of the new recruits are in this thread knocking the FTO! Ok we get it your "college educated" could not find another job joined CPD as a stop gap measure but now like the money correct? Your smarter than a 5th grader yes we know.

After two years on the job, I am glad that I am finally able to take a test and move up in the department. I laugh at the officers who are disgruntled and do not want to do anything. I am taking the test and I am moving up on this job.

Currently, I am getting my masters in Criminal Justice from Calumet College. Yes the curriculum is challenging, but I have been getting straight As.

With my masters, I will go far on this job. Already, I see how many officers do not have a clue about making stops. These are officers who have over twenty years on the job. It was definitely overdue for the department to spell out their jobs so that they can comprehend what they are supposed to do.

I suggest that the department implement scripts and make the officers read them verbatim while they are conducting stops. But officers will still have trouble making stops the template in hand notwithstanding.

9/11/2015 04:00:00 PM

You will make a nice dickhead of a Sgt. with 25 years on! Wish ya the best asshole!

9/12/2015 02:35:00 PMYou are the perfect example of "too much college, not enough common sense". Script???? LMAO. Get some experience under your belt before you criticize. The arrogance and hubris of these newbies knows no bounds ...SMH....

9/12/2015 02:42:00 PM

Don't feed the trolls bruh.

You're about as sharp as the people who thought the Ultimate Tactical Warrior was anything but satire.

Did actually try to use two words that mean the same thing or are just unfamiliar with the purpose of a thesaurus?

The FTO is one of the most important positions in the Department. You need a good screening process to get the right people in the job. FTO's should be competent, caring about their job, wanting to teach and mentor recruits, and most importantly have a good attitude. Having a good attitude goes a long way in Police work!!!!!! BE SAFE OUT THERE.

Anonymous Anonymous said...ous said...After two years on the job, I am glad that I am finally able to take a test and move up in the department. I laugh at the officers who are disgruntled and do not want to do anything. I am taking the test and I am moving up on this job.

Currently, I am getting my masters in Criminal Justice from Calumet College. Yes the curriculum is challenging, but I have been getting straight As.

With my masters, I will go far on this job. Already, I see how many officers do not have a clue about making stops. These are officers who have over twenty years on the job. It was definitely overdue for the department to spell out their jobs so that they can comprehend what they are supposed to do.

I suggest that the department implement scripts and make the officers read them verbatim while they are conducting stops. But officers will still have trouble making stops the template in hand notwithstanding.9/11/2015 04:00:00 PM

You are the perfect example of "too much college, not enough common sense". Script???? LMAO. Get some experience under your belt before you criticize. The arrogance and hubris of these newbies knows no bounds ...S

Write back in 10 or so years and let us all know how far you have progressed in this department. Some us had to wait 10 years just to take the detective exam because none was offered.I do hope you have a phone call to go with the masters.The curriculum is challenging at Calumet College? Really?, but then I guess it should be at a nationally tier 1 top rated university.

After two years on the job, I am glad that I am finally able to take a test and move up in the department. I laugh at the officers who are disgruntled and do not want to do anything. I am taking the test and I am moving up on this job.

Currently, I am getting my masters in Criminal Justice from Calumet College. Yes the curriculum is challenging, but I have been getting straight As.

With my masters, I will go far on this job. Already, I see how many officers do not have a clue about making stops. These are officers who have over twenty years on the job. It was definitely overdue for the department to spell out their jobs so that they can comprehend what they are supposed to do.

I suggest that the department implement scripts and make the officers read them verbatim while they are conducting stops. But officers will still have trouble making stops the template in hand notwithstanding

I feel slighted that you have not been promoted in the first TWO years on the job. Maybe the CPD can make an exception in your case and promote you without taking an exam.Im sure you stand out in the district that you work and many bosses are petitioning McCarthy to promote you. The mayor evidently doesn't realize the asset he has in you and that all of the other po's could gain vast information from your experience and intellect.

When I first came on this job in the early 90,s, i was fortunate to have a great FTO. Back then, FTO's had pay parity with Detectives. Making the FTO position D2A would be a great start. It would attract a lot more qualified applicants. A minimum of 5 years in patrol to qualify to be a FTO. Proper vetting, evaluation, and testing would be a must. One recruit to a FTO should be the rule. This is arguably one of the most important positions on the entire department. My FTO was a great example of what a professional police officer should be. He was one of those who truly loved patrol and looked at it as a science that could be taught. Having said that, times were different back then, and a patrolman had a little more leeway. IMO, the last decade and a half, the FTO program has been a joke. PO's with just a few years on the job have been tasked to do field training when many of them haven't figured out how to be a patrolman. it's been the blind leading the blind. Either that, or overburdening a FTO with multiple recruits where they learn little to nothing about the art of patrol. Not to mention, some recruits coming out of the academy thinking they have little to nothing to learn from anyone with experience on this job. No wonder we're in such a sorry state.

When the younger Katz get on the blog and started yapping about what they just did, how far they'll go as result, and when they get some real time in I can't help but feel bad for them. I'm obviously talking about the kid boasting about his Masters and how he/she knows how the game is played .They'll come a time when reality SLAPS that person in the face like we all were.How do you make God laugh?-LennonGood luck, tiger